Grandmother - What's Your Name?

The Gayla Pink Apple

 

What's Your Name?

No, Not Your Name

Your Grandmother Name?

 

 

Are you too young to be called a grandmother?  Are you too vein to be called a grandmother?  Are you too unique to be called a grandmother?  What's really behind all this grandmother name stuff?

 

Hey Nana or Nanna; Granna, or Granny or Grammy, Yaya or Gaga, Gigi or Mimi, Honey or Sugar, Buttercup or Sweetie Pie.

 

First, let me admit, I have not yet walked in these shoes.  Becoming a grandmother has not presented itself in my world.  But, I have been through this with many friends.  Seems the first thing, after being informed the grandbaby is on the way, is deciding what your grandmother name should be.  You know, that special name, just for you, and to be used by the grandbaby as well as future grandchildren.  Most likely a new name to be used by the rest of the family and your close friends.  So, it might take the full 9 months to come up with this special name.  Afterall, this is not just any name!

 

Seems like these names used to be the result of a grandchild not being able to fully pronounce grandma or grandmother and, therefore, a new name was born. Not the case anymore, with my friends anyway.   It is a chosen name - and most often chosen by the grandmother-to-be. Then, after the grandmother name is finalized, it's time to decide on a grandfather name. Oh yes, the fun really begins. Hey Poppy, Pops, Papa, Gramps, Happy, Papaw, Pepaw, Dadaw, Dadoo, Grampy, Grampus. 

 

So, how does one decide on this name.  It needs to represent you perfectly - you know - how wonderful you are - how much your family loves you - how fabulous your grandchildren will think you are, etc.  It needs to say awwwh, that's so sweet? or Oh, how cute?  Oh, now that's cool?

I don't really know how sweet, cute or cool some of these names really sound, but I'm cool with whatever my friends choose. 

 

I have two friends who are called Yaya!  Now, I like Yaya, but, sort of reminds me of Yahoo - but I still like it. The more I ponder it - reminds me of 'ya' meaning yeah or yes and afterall grandmothers say 'yes' most always - so Yaya is perfect.   I have a friend who wanted to be Gaga.  That was several years ago before the famous Lady Gaga.  Not sure I'd want to be called Gaga today if I thought everyone was going to think of the famous Lady Gaga instead of me - but at the time she decided on Gaga - the famous Lady Gaga was about ten years old.  I have a friend who is Granda, a neighbor is Mimi, previous coworker is Gigi, my sister is Nana, and another friend is called Honey, and last but not least a colleague is called Buttercup by her grandchildren. 

 

Now, don't get me wrong.  I love all of these cute names.  But, what's wrong with Grandmother? or Grandma?  Afterall, it is what it is and I think it is nice - just think about it - GRANDmother.  In my mind that means you are GRAND.  Who doesn't want to be GRAND.  We do grand things for our friends, family, and children.  We want our friends, family, and children to think we are GRAND.  So what's wrong with our grandchildren calling us Grandmother or Grandma. 

 

Oh, and my Grandmother - she was called Momma Dee. To defend the name, her middle name Dee - hence Momma Dee.   And, my mother is a fabulous Grandmother - who is called Mack by her grandchildren.  However, Mack is her middle name - hence Mack.   Hmmmmm, my middle name is Karen - Oh Lordy, NO!  I can't see my grandchildren calling me Karen, can you?

 

But, I don't think Yaya, Gaga, Gigi, Mimi, are middle names.  But, they are soooooooooo cute, special, unique, and darling grandmother names.  Don't accuse me of being against your cute grandmother name because if you love it - I love it too - because I love you and that's all that matters.  But, please don't expect me to call you that too! 

I might be called Pink or Apple,
Gayla